1912 – 1983

Roy Sullivan

American park ranger

forestry ranger

Born

1912-02-07, Greene County

Died

1983-09-28

Birthplace state

Virginia

Biography

Roy Cleveland Sullivan was an American park ranger in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Between 1942 and 1977, Sullivan was claimed to have survived being struck by lightning seven times. For this reason, he gained the nicknames "Human Lightning Conductor" and "Human Lightning Rod". Sullivan is recognized by Guinness World Records as the person struck by lightning more recorded times than any other human.

Occupation

Roy Sullivan is recorded as a forestry ranger, born in Virginia (1912–1983).

Connections to Virginia

Roy Sullivan was born in Greene County, Virginia in 1912. Explore other notable figures from Virginia, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Virginia›Virginiahistory ›Historic sites in Virginia›

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Overview

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The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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More notable figures from Virginia

Other historical figures born in Virginia, ranked by historical prominence.

George Washington

founding Father and first U.S. president; soldier and slave owner (1732–1799)

Thomas Jefferson

president of the United States from 1801 to 1809 (1743–1826)

James Madison

President of the United States from 1809 to 1817 (1751–1836)

James Monroe

president of the United States from 1817 to 1825 (1758–1831)

Zachary Taylor

president of the United States from 1849 to 1850

John Tyler

president of the United States from 1841 to 1845

William Henry Harrison

president of the United States in 1841

Frequently asked about Roy Sullivan

Who was Roy Sullivan?

Roy Sullivan was American park ranger, born in Virginia (1912 – 1983).

When and where was Roy Sullivan born?

Roy Sullivan was born on 1912-02-07 in Greene County.

When did Roy Sullivan die?

Roy died on 1983-09-28.

What was Roy Sullivan known for?

Roy Sullivan is recorded as a forestry ranger.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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